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Abstract:

A mold includes a mold core, a first cover, and a second cover. The mold
core includes a cavity and a pair of elastic pieces. The pair of elastic
pieces is in the cavity and divides the cavity into a first room and a
second room. The first cover covers the first room of the cavity. The
first cover defines a plurality of first plug holes. A first I/O can be
formed in the first room by injecting a first liquid plastic material in
the first room via the plurality of first plug holes. The second cover
covers the first room and second room of the cavity. The second cover
defines a plurality of second plug holes. A second I/O port assembly can
be formed by injecting a second liquid plastic material in the first room
and the second room via the plurality of second plug holes.

Claims:

1. A mold, comprising: a mold core comprising a cavity and a pair of
elastic pieces, the pair of elastic pieces being in the cavity and
dividing the cavity into a first room and a second room; a first cover
configured to cover the first room of the cavity, the first cover
defining a plurality of first plug holes, and a first I/O port assembly
configured to be formed in the first room by injecting a first liquid
plastic material into the first room of the cavity via the plurality of
first plug holes; and a second cover configured to cover the first room
and second room of the cavity, the second cover defining a plurality of
second plug holes, and a second I/O port assembly configured to be formed
in the cavity by injecting a second liquid plastic material into the
first room and the second room via the second plug holes.

2. The mold of claim 1, wherein the mold core comprises a bottom wall, a
pair of parallel first sidewalls, and a pair of parallel second
sidewalls, and the bottom wall, the pair of first sidewalls, and the pair
of second sidewalls cooperatively define the cavity.

3. The mold of claim 2, wherein the pair of elastic pieces are located on
the pair of first sidewalls, and the pair of elastic pieces extend toward
each other.

4. The mold of claim 3, wherein each of the pair of elastic pieces
comprises a pair of connection portions and an abutting portion, each of
the pair of connection portions is slantingly connected to each of the
pair of first sidewalls, and the abutting portion is connected between
the pair of connection portions.

5. The mold of claim 4, wherein a gap is defined between the abutting
portion and each of the pair of first sidewalls, the first cover
comprises a pair of clasps, and each of the pair of clasps is configured
to be inserted in the gap and engaged on each of the pair of elastic
pieces to mount the first cover on the mold core.

6. The mold of claim 4, wherein the second cover comprises a pair of
second side panels, and the pair of second side panels are located
between the pair of first sidewalls, each of the pair of elastic pieces
is configured to abut each of the pair of second side panels and to apply
force on the pair of second side panels to mount the second cover on the
mold core.

7. The mold of claim 6, wherein a second cover panel is connected between
the pair of second side panels, and the plurality of second plug holes
are defined in the second cover panel.

8. A mold, comprising: a mold core comprising a pair of first sidewalls,
a cavity defined between the pair of first sidewalls, a pair of elastic
pieces formed on the pair of first sidewalls, each of the pair of elastic
pieces comprising a pair of connection portions and an abutting portion,
each of the pair of connection portions being slantingly connected to
each of the pair of first sidewalls, and the abutting portion being
connected between the pair of connection portions, and a gap being
defined between the abutting portion and each of the pair of first
sidewalls; a first cover comprising a pair of clasps, and each of the
pair of clasps being configured to be inserted in the gap and engaged on
each of the pair of elastic pieces to mount the first cover on the mold
core; and a second cover comprising a pair of second side panels, the
pair of second side panels being located between the pair of first
sidewalls, each of the pair of elastic pieces being configured to abut
each of the pair of second side panels and to apply force on the pair of
second side panels to mount the second cover on the mold core.

9. The mold of claim 8, wherein the pair of elastic pieces divide the
cavity into a first room and a second room, the first cover is configured
to cover the first room of the cavity, and the second cover is configured
to cover the first room and the second room of the cavity.

10. The mold of claim 9, wherein the first cover comprises a first cover
panel, the first cover panel defines a plurality of first plug holes, and
a first I/O port assembly is configured to be formed in the first room by
injecting a first liquid plastic material into the first room of the
cavity via the plurality of first plug holes.

11. The mold of claim 9, wherein a second cover panel is connected
between the pair of second side panels, and a plurality of second plug
holes are defined in the second cover panel, and a second I/O port
assembly is configured to be formed in the first room and the second room
by injecting a second liquid plastic material into the first room and the
second room of the cavity via the plurality of second plug holes.

Description:

BACKGROUND

[0001] 1. Technical Field

[0002] The present disclosure relates to molds, and more particularly to a
mold for manufacturing input/output (I/O) ports of a computer front
panel.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] In a computer, a front panel is attached on a front side of an
enclosure of the computer to cover the front side. For conveniently
connecting to peripheral devices, input/output (I/O) ports are formed on
the front side. However, for different computers, the I/O ports are
different. Therefore, different molds may be needed to manufacture
different front panels which have different I/O ports.

[0005] Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with
reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are
not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon
clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the
drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts
throughout the several views.

[0007] FIG. 1 is an exploded and isometric view of a mold core of a mold
and a first I/O port assembly formed by the mold in accordance with an
embodiment.

[0008] FIG. 2 is an assembled view of the mold core and a first cover of
the mold of FIG. 1.

[0009] FIG. 3 is an exploded and isometric view the mold core and the
first cover of the mold of FIG. 1.

[0010] FIG. 4 is an assembled view of the mold core and a second cover of
the mold.

[0011] FIG. 5 is an exploded and isometric view the mold core and the
second cover of the mold of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of
limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like
references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references
to "an" or "one" embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the
same embodiment, and such references mean "at least one."

[0013] Referring to FIG. 1, a mold for manufacturing input/output (I/O)
ports of a computer front panel includes a mold core 30.

[0014] The mold core 30 includes a bottom wall 31, a pair of parallel
first sidewalls 33, and a pair of parallel second sidewalls 35. The pair
of first sidewalls 33 are connected to two opposite edges of the bottom
wall 31. The pair of second sidewalls 35 are connected to another two
opposite edges of the bottom wall 31. The pair of second sidewalls 35 are
perpendicular to the pair of first sidewalls 33. The bottom wall 31, the
pair of first sidewalls 33, and the pair of second sidewalls 35
cooperatively define a cavity 60.

[0015] Each of the pair of first sidewalls 33 defines a hole 334. An
elastic piece 331 is connected to opposite edges of the hole 334. The
elastic pieces 331 of the pair of sidewalls 33 extend toward each other.
Each of the elastic pieces 331 includes a pair of connection portions
3311 and an abutting portion 3313. Each of the pair of connection
portions 3311 are slantingly connected to a corresponding one of the pair
of first sidewalls 33. A gap 332 is defined between the abutting portion
3313 and the first sidewall 33. The two elastic pieces 331 of the pair of
first sidewalls 33 divides the cavity 60 into a first room 61 and a
second room 63.

[0016] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a first cover 40 is adapted to cover the
mold core 30 to form a first I/O port assembly 10 of one front plate. The
first cover 40 includes a first cover panel 41 and a first side panel 42.
The first side panel 42 is perpendicularly connected to an edge of the
first cover panel 41. A length of the first cover 40 is smaller than a
length of the mold core 30. The first cover panel 41 defines a plurality
of first plug holes 411. The first side panel 42 forms a pair of clasps
421.

[0017] To form the first I/O port assembly 10, the first cover panel 41 of
the first cover 40 is covered on the cavity 60 of the mold core 30. The
clasp 421 of the first cover panel 41 is inserted in the gap 332 and
engaged on the elastic piece 331 to mount the first cover 40 on the mold
core 30. Liquid plastic material is injected in the first room 61 of the
cavity 60 via the first plug holes 411. The liquid plastic material is
solidified in the first room 61 to form the first I/O port assembly 10.

[0018] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a second cover 50 is adapted to cover
the mold core 30 to form a second I/O port assembly 20 of another front
plate. The second cover 50 includes a second cover panel 51 and a pair of
second side panels 53 connected to two opposite edges of the second cover
panel 51. The second cover panel 51 defines a plurality of second plug
holes 511.

[0019] To form the second I/O port assembly 20, the second cover panel 51
of the second cover 50 is covered on the cavity 60 of the mold core 30.
The pair of second side panels 53 is located between the pair of first
sidewalls 33 of the mold core 30. The abutting portions 3313 of the
elastic pieces 331 abut the pair of second side panels 53 and are
deformed by the pair of second side panels 53. The elastic pieces 331
urge on the pair of second side panels 53 to mount the second cover 50 on
the mold core 30. Liquid plastic material is injected in the first room
61 and the second room 63 of the cavity 60 via the second plug holes 511.
The liquid plastic material is solidified in the first room 61 and the
second room 63 to form the second I/O port assembly 20.

[0020] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous
characteristics and advantages of the embodiments have been set forth in
the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and
functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and
changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size,
and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present disclosure
to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in
which the appended claims are expressed.